Mürzsteg Alps

Low avalanche danger - Increasing wet snow problem

Low avalanche danger - Increasing wet snow problem

Avalanche danger is assessed as low, but rises slightly during the course of the day. On sunny slopes, naturally triggered wet-snow avalanches can be expected in steep rocky terrain despite the small amounts of snow on the ground.

Persistent warmth over the last few days has moistened the snowpack on sunny slopes up to high altitudes, intermediate-altitude slopes are becoming bare of snow. On shady slopes where there are more reserves of cold there are still layers of faceted crystals inside the snowpack which will be activated as weak layers when the snowpack soon becomes moist and destabilized thereby. On smooth slopes gliding activity will again increase.

On Thursday morning it will be sunny in the Styrian mountains, but clouds will move in during the course of the day from the northwest. Precipitation is not anticipated. Winds will be moderate to brisk on the summits from westerly directions. At 2000 m: +5 degrees; at 1500 m: +10 degrees. On Friday, dense cloud cover will move in, though brisk SW winds will disperse it somewhat. During the afternoon a cold front will arrive from the northwest, bringing lower temperatures and precipitation widespread on Friday night and during the daytime on Saturday.

On Friday, wet snow will be the major problem